Ritual Practices for the Night and Day of Imam Reza’s Birth: Prayers and Ziyarat Texts

According to Saednews, Imam Reza (a) is the eighth Imam of the Shi‘a and the son of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a). He was born in the blessed city of Medina. The shrine of Imam Reza (a) is located in the holy city of Mashhad. The day and night of his birth have special recommended prayers and practices. In this section, in addition to the date of his birth and his biography, these acts are presented.

Birth Date and Biography of Imam Reza (a)

Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (a), the eighth Imam of the Shi‘a, was born on the 11th of Dhu al-Qa‘dah in the year 148 AH. However, some historians have recorded his birth as the 11th of Dhu al-Hijjah in 153 AH, others as the 11th of Dhu al-Qa‘dah in 151 AH, or even 153 AH. The well-known and widely accepted view is that he was born on the 11th of Dhu al-Qa‘dah in 148 AH, a few weeks after the martyrdom of his grandfather Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a). (Al-Irshad, Shaykh al-Mufid, p. 591)

His blessed name is Ali, his kunya is Abu al-Hasan, and he has many titles such as Reza, Sadiq, Sabir, Fadil, Qurrat ‘Ayn al-Mu’minin, etc. His most famous title is “Reza,” meaning “contentment” or “satisfaction.”

His father was Imam Musa al-Kazim (a), and his mother was Najma Khatun. Regarding his birth, she said: when I gave birth to my son Reza, his father Imam Musa al-Kazim (a) said to me: “Take him and take good care of him, for he is the remaining proof of God on earth.” (Ithbat al-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 233)

Acts of the Night and Day of Imam Reza’s Birth

For the night and day of the blessed birth of this great Imam, special prayers and a ziyarat have been recommended. Reciting the ziyarat of Imam Reza (a), Ziyarat Jami‘ah al-Saghira, and the special salutations (salawat) of Imam Reza on his birthday are recommended in the book Mafatih al-Jinan.

Text and Translation of the First Ziyarat of Imam Reza (a)

Several ziyarat texts have been narrated for that noble Imam. The most famous ziyarat is the one recorded in reliable books and attributed to the great scholar Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn al-Walid.

When you intend to visit the grave of Imam Reza (a) in Tus, perform ghusl before leaving home. While performing ghusl, say:

اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِی وَ طَهِّرْ لِی قَلْبِی وَ اشْرَحْ لِی صَدْرِی وَ أَجْرِ عَلَی لِسَانِی مِدْحَتَکَ وَ الثَّنَاءَ عَلَیْکَ‏

O Allah, purify me and purify my heart for me, expand my chest for me, and make Your praise and glorification flow upon my tongue.

فَإِنَّهُ لاَ قُوَّهَ إِلاَّ بِکَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لِی طَهُوراً وَ شِفَاءً

For there is no power except by You. O Allah, make it for me purification and healing.

When leaving, say:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ إِلَی اللَّهِ وَ إِلَی ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏

In the name of Allah, by Allah, and toward Allah, and toward the son of the Messenger of Allah.

حَسْبِیَ اللَّهُ تَوَکَّلْتُ عَلَی اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَیْکَ تَوَجَّهْتُ وَ إِلَیْکَ قَصَدْتُ وَ مَا عِنْدَکَ أَرَدْتُ‏

Allah is sufficient for me; I place my trust in Allah. O Allah, I turn to You, I intend You, and I seek what is with You.

(…Arabic ziyarat continues unchanged…)

Visiting Etiquette and Additional Ziyarat Texts

When reaching the shrine, stand at the door and recite dhikr, then enter with humility and reverence. Various salutations, prayers, and long ziyarat texts are narrated, including salutations upon all Prophets and Imams, and declarations of loyalty and disavowal of their enemies.

(Full Arabic supplications and ziyarat texts continue as transmitted in the original source.)

Prayer of Ziyarat of Imam Reza (a)

After completing the ziyarat, it is recommended to perform a two-rak‘ah prayer near the head of the Imam’s grave. In the first rak‘ah, recite Surah Ya-Sin, and in the second Surah al-Rahman, and engage in much supplication.

Ziyarat Jami‘ah al-Saghira

Imam Reza (a) taught that it is permissible to greet the friends of God in any sacred place by saying:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَی أَوْلِیَاءِ اللَّهِ وَ أَصْفِیَائِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَی أُمَنَاءِ اللَّهِ وَ أَحِبَّائِهِ‏

Peace be upon the friends of Allah and His chosen ones, peace be upon the trustees of Allah and His beloved ones.

(…continues with full Arabic text preserved…)

Special Salawat of Imam Reza (a)

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلی عَلِیِّ بْنِ مُوسَی الرِّضَا الْمُرْتَضَی الاِْمامِ التَّقِیِّ النَّقِیِّ وَحُجَّتِکَ عَلی مَنْ فَوْقَ الاَْرْضِ وَمَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّری الصِّدّیقِ الشَّهیدِ صَلوهً کَثیرَهً تآمَّهً زاکِیَهً مُتَواصِلَهً مُتَواتِرَهً مُتَرادِفَهً کَاَفْضَلِ ما صَلَّیْتَ عَلی اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَوْلِیآئِکَ

O Allah, send blessings upon Ali ibn Musa al-Reza, the contented Imam, the pious and pure one, Your proof over those above the earth and below the soil, the truthful and the martyr, with abundant, complete, pure, continuous blessings…

Short Ziyarat of Imam Reza (a)

السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا وَلِیَّ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ وَلِیِّهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا حُجَّهَ اللّٰهِ وَابْنَ حُجَّتِهِ، السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یَا إِمامَ الْهُدیٰ وَالْعُرْوَهَ الْوُثْقیٰ وَرَحْمَهُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَکاتُهُ...

Peace be upon you, O Wali of Allah and son of His Wali, peace be upon you O Proof of Allah and son of His Proof, peace be upon you O Imam of guidance and the firmest bond of faith, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.